NARS Andy Warhol Larger Than Life Lipglosses Reviews, Photos, Swatches
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
These Lipglosses Might Surprise You
NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss ($26.00 for 0.19 fl. oz.) comes in five hues for the holidays: Candy Says (shimmering strawberry pink), Hollywoodlawn (bright orange-red), International Velvet (pink glace), Penny Arcade (raspberry), and Viva (rich rose). In the press release, these are described as having “brilliant shine” that “stays in place for hours” with “intense color” in a formula that keeps lips feeling “protected and moisturized.” NARS’ website describes these as “high-shine,” “long-lasting,” and “nourish[ing].”
Candy Says is a light-medium warm pink with subtle yellow undertones and a large dose of white micro-shimmer. It provides semi-opaque color coverage that is close to opaque, but the natural lip color does come through and will be more apparent the more pigmented your natural lip color is. This shade was hard to dupe, because of the more opaque color–most glosses that might be similar lacked the color in the background. It wore for five and a half hours. MAC Sewet Bean is sheerer and has multi-colored shimmer. MAC Karin has pink shimmer. Bobbi Brown Pastel is sheerer and has larger sparkle.
Hollywoodlawn is red-orange (more red than orange) with no shimmer. It yielded semi-opaque color coverage, but more importantly, it was very even, smooth-looking color that didn’t settle too noticeably into lip lines (and certainly, not noticeable from a normal viewing distance!). It lasted for six hours on my lips. NARS Wonder is similar, a smidgen darker, and has shimmer. MAC Knockout is creamier looking, slightly more orange. Illamasqua Temper is more orange.
International Velvet is a pale, milky pink with almost a neutral undertone–it looks almost cool-toned in the tube, but it doesn’t look very blue-based on. It is incredibly milky, though, which resulted in uneven color application and noticeable color settling into lip lines. This was my least favorite out of the five, because of the application problems. It lasted for four and a half hours. MAC Pagoda has shimmer. MA Angel is more opaque and has shimmer. Tom Ford Sugar Pink is darker and yellower. Bobbi Brown Pink Sorbet is darker, more yellow-toned, and has shimmer. MAC Japanese Spring is bluer in undertone.
Penny Arcade is a raspberry pink with no shimmer. It doesn’t apply as nicely as Hollywoodlawn did, but it was better than International Velvet. The color isn’t quite as even, and there is minor settling of color into the lip lines. The latter wasn’t so noticeable from afar, but the unevenness was. The color coverage was semi-opaque. It wore for five and a half hours. MAC Cherry Electric is lighter and has glitter. MAC Galaxy Rose is less fuchsia. NARS Mexican Rose is rather similar. Le Metier de Beaute Hibiskiss is similar but sheerer and has shimmer. Illamasqua Petulant is more opaque, brighter, less raspberry–more fuchsia.
Viva is a rose-tinted brown with mostly neutral undertones. In some ways, it’s almost like a subdued, browned coral. It has a creamy appearance, but it doesn’t look milky on. It does take a little more patience to apply, because any unevenness is noticeable. The color coverage was semi-opaque–not fully opaque but close–and allowed some of the natural lip color to peek through. This shade wore for five hours on my lips. MAC Strictly Plutonic is sheerer, softer. MAC Whoops! is darker, more orange. Hourglass Nectar is brighter, more coral. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi is lighter and has shimmer.
Overall, I found all five lipglosses to be comfortable to wear, on the longer-side of wear, and hydrating. International Velvet was the under-performer, both because of application, as well as wear. The texture is gel-like initially, but it gets progressively tackier as the color wears (it’s noticeably tacky after a half hour or so). It has a tiny brush-type applicator, and I find that if I use it to apply, I really end up using the hard plastic applicator above it, too. I know NARS wanted to make it smaller to increase precision, but it seems to leave a lot of brush strokes behind.
NARS Andy Warhol Larger Than Life Lipglosses Reviews, Photos, Swatches
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Candy Says Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Hollywoodlawn Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Hollywoodlawn Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Hollywoodlawn Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Hollywoodlawn Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Hollywoodlawn Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Hollywoodlawn Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS International Velvet Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS International Velvet Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS International Velvet Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS International Velvet Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS International Velvet Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS International Velvet Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Penny Arcade Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Penny Arcade Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Penny Arcade Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Penny Arcade Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Penny Arcade Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Penny Arcade Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Viva Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Viva Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Viva Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Viva Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Viva Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Viva Larger Than Life Lipgloss
After reading your reviews on the other products that part of the Andy Warhol collection… (very disappointing) , these lip glosses look quite nice. I agree with the applicator being to thin and small. I have the larger than life lip gloss in Como (beautiful darkened raspberry with golden shimmer) and it takes a bit more time to actually apply and then fill in the streak marks.
Phew – glad you feel the same way about the applicator, Peggy! It’s too small, and I think that some of the brush-type applicators are on the larger side, so something in the middle could work. Although, I am partial to doe-foot applicators 😉
I generally like doe-foot applicators…. however, I lightly and quickly apply the gloss on top of lipstick. I find the doe-foot applicators could leave streaks if pressed down with the tinniest bit of pressure.
p.s. your work really inspires me. I like how professional you are and really appreciate your work !
x
Thank you, Peggy!
I love the Larger Than Life formula (it works really well for me) so I deal with the tiny applicator (though I don’t understand it!!). I do like Hollywoodlawn and Penny Arcade a LOT, and I’d like to try out Viva on myself. I’m happy these were actually a win for the collection.
This is going to be a weird question, but do these have the same scent as the regular NARS lipglosses? I’ve noticed that those tend to smell very plastic-y and processed, which is a HUGE bummer because the colours are so great. I just can’t get over how weirdly unpleasant they smell (and taste!). Boo. 🙁
Nope, no weird plastic scent!
Is Penny Arcade similar to Place Vendome lipgloss or Hot wired lip lacquer because I heard they are also similar to Mexican rose?
I’m not sure about Place Vendome, but Hot Wired would be more fuchsia!
I think Candy Says and Viva are beautiful and look great on you! I especially like that Candy Says *almost* looks a little mauvy on your lips? Really, really pretty. But I haven’t tried any of the Larger than Life glosses–the main reason being that teeny, tiny brush. I already don’t like brush applicators enough as it is, but to have such a small one is even more annoying to me. I really wish they’d give it a doe-foot applicator…
I think that they all look lovely on you, though International Velvet isn’t my favorite due to the milkiness and sheerness. But Penny Arcade and Candy Says are great colours on you. Penny Arcade in particular and it looks perfect with your eye makeup colours! Do you think you would ever reach for the better ones of these on your own accord or do Bobbi Brown and Clé de Peau hold a monopoly over your lipgloss heart?
I don’t mind tackiness, but I prefer non-sticky overall, though really I don’t like the applicator on these enough that I’d pass purely because of that. It takes too long to apply and you absolutely need a mirror! Most of the time, if I’m reaching for a gloss, it’s to add shimmer/shine to a lipstick or to have a grab-and-go color that will work with a lot of things. It’s more a reflection on what I personally like in a gloss, but I do dislike that applicator a lot!
That’s very fair. It’s a bit of a pity as that Penny Arcade is so incredibly gorgeous on you. What’s interesting to me is how applicator size and type can be a deal-breaker for so many people. I have the brush kind (MAC Laquer/Bare Escentuals), the squeeze top and the doe-foot but it’s truly never registered with me until now when I went to look at my gloss drawer. (Lipglosses go into quarantine. 😉 ) After having tried two on, I guess I can see why the doe-thingy would be more appealing. Huh. Gloss is a whole other universe, isn’t it? Somehow, I have the sneaking suspicion you’re quietly sucking me into it….. *grin*
I forget – is there going to be a gift set of these? I seem to remember hearing that, but I could be wrong. Maybe Sephora? I’d be tempted by the colors but I think the applicator would drive me bonkers.
I do believe they are different shades 🙂
thanks ma’am 🙂
Candy Says is beautiful. It’s the one bright spot in the entire launch, IMO. I also may have to get it just because of the name, as I have similar shades.
Candy Says and Hollywoodland are going to be in my make up bag, very very soon.
Hey, a B. Not bad, I guess, considering that the other Andy Warhol NARS product were so disappointing.
Hi Christine,
Can you suggest a lipstick that has almost the same color as Viva?
Thanks
I couldn’t think of any 🙁
I might get Candy Says of Viva. Hmm…
International Velvet reminds me of MAC’s cremesheen glass Ever So Rich (mines getting low)! I appreciated its milky creaminess! I’m definitely getting International Velvet as a replacement! Thanks, Xtine!